20120625
Press TV
Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has slammed the extradition of former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi from Tunisia to Libya as “illegal”.


Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali had taken the decision to extradite al-Mahmoudi without consulting the president, a statement from Marzouki’s office read on Sunday, according to the AFP.

"The presidency of the Republic expresses its rejection of the decision of the head of government to extradite M. Mahmoudi and considers this decision … illegal, all the more so because it has been done unilaterally and without consulting the President of the Republic," the statement further read.

"The extradition decision, signed by the head of the Tunisian government, constitutes a clear violation of our country's international commitments and those towards the UN."

The Tunisian president had earlier vowed to hand over the Libyan official only if the Libyan interim government guaranteed a fair trial. However, later in May, he opposed the move.

Mahmoudi arrived in Libya early Sunday and was in prison under the supervision of Libya’s Ministry of Justice and the judiciary police.

He had fled the country following the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi last year. He is expected to stand trial for his crimes committed while serving Gaddafi, including crimes against humanity.


He was detained by Tunisian authorities last September after Libya issued an international arrest warrant for him.

Mahmoudi served as Libya’ prime minister from 2006 until Gaddafi’s final days in power in 2011.